Dear Parents/Caregivers,
I hope you have had a wonderful week.
School Citizenship
I addressed the students at our weekly assembly this week on the theme of school citizenship and pride. These feelings of school connectedness are important to us as they are key indicators of student satisfaction and wellbeing. As a school we use many measures to judge student happiness, including the Tell Them From Me Survey; involvement in extra-curricula activities, attendance, behaviour referrals, wellbeing referrals and student achievement. Generally students who are engaged in their learning and actively involved in school life have a high level of school satisfaction. There are exceptions but generally it follows that engaged, challenged, involved students are happy students.
Whilst it is impossible to achieve 100% student satisfaction 100% of the time, it is 100% our aim to strive to make school a happy place with quality, calm learning environments and a diverse program of leadership, extension, performing arts and sporting opportunities.
I addressed the assembly this week to congratulate all students on the high level of registration and participation in extra-curricula activities already, and we are only in Week 5! We had the cast for The Little Mermaid musical announced this week (Ms Young and her team had about 175 auditions to coordinate and make decisions from); we have 93 students from Years 9-11 registered in Duke of Edinburgh; we have a record breaking four dance ensembles (a new one was created this year to accommodate the growing number of talented dancers at Riverside): students signing up as Library Monitors to assist Ms Ghorra in the library; students in all years (including Year 7) signing up as tour guides for our Open Day next Tuesday; our Open Girls Volleyball Knockout team winning their first round of the CHS Sydney North competition against Hunters Hill High School; three records broken at the Riverside Swimming Carnival; 26 students from Year 7-12 representing us at the NSW All Schools Triathlon at the Sydney International Regatta Centre; students coordinating an O’Harris fundraiser next week to raise money for the GO Foundation; senior and junior music ensembles rehearsing in preparation for competitions and the musical; students participating in the NSW Arts Unit ensembles as well as Schools Spectacular; The Stream writing group has begun writing and the Matta Tiddas Food and Beverage crew are honing their hot chocolate and coffee making skills ready to open our Matta Tiddas school cafe…and so it goes on….
It is an absolute pleasure to be the principal of such a vibrant, dynamic school and to be inspired every day by the talented, passionate students and teachers who make Riverside the wonderful place that it is to learn and grow. We will continue to endeavour to always improve the school through our results in all external tests, including the HSC, embedding our strategic goals of ongoing improvement in literacy, numeracy, explicit teaching and collaborative partnerships in all classroom practice. We will continue to lead excellence in teaching and learning through school-based and external professional learning to ensure Riverside is always ready to adopt the best of new ideas and innovation.
As always, if you have any questions or would like clarification of our strategic goals, you may always email the school.
School beautification
In preparation for Open Day and every day beyond it, we have been undergoing a massive school beautification program. I would like to make special mention of a few very special people who have played a huge role in cleaning up our grounds by gardening, potting, cleaning pots, moving things and disposing of rubbish. Javier, our GA; Karen, our Science Assistant and passionate gardener; Steve and Chris our assistant GAs; members of the P&C, led by green thumbs Tanja and Madeleine; as well as Mayor Zac Miles and Mitch Murphy, GM Hunters Hill Council, for sending their gardens team to mow the strip of land along Victoria Road. It is nice to be able to see in the school fence to see the newly maintained gardens within the school gates. Our newly cleaned sandstone entrance way (at what is now the back of the school) will also be enjoyed by our staff and teachers and those who attend school tours.
Next time you visit, don’t forget to admire the works – I am delighted to be able to create such a sparkly, inviting physical environment for our students to pass through and enjoy every day.
Open Day
Our annual Open Day will be held on Tuesday 4 March from 4:00 - 6:00pm. Please pass this on to your friends and family who may be interested in visiting our school and considering Riverside for their daughters now or in the future.
Welcome to Year 7 Afternoon Tea
A date for the diary is Tuesday 25 March for a Welcome to Year 7 Afternoon Tea for all families of Year 7. Please see the details below and remember to RSVP. This is a casual event to provide the opportunity for parents to meet their daughter’s teachers. It is not a parent teacher interview. Year 7 will receive interim reports in Term 1 Week 11 to provide initial feedback to parents and final reports in preparation for parent teacher interviews in late Term 2. We hope to see you for some cake and chat.
Macquarie University
This morning I attended a breakfast at Macquarie University to meet senior university staff to discuss existing and emerging options for students. It was a great event to hear from senior academics and the Vice Chancellor, Bruce Dowton, about the university and ideas to leverage opportunities, including early entry programs, for our students. It really is a beautiful campus with so many contemporary, future-focused degrees and double degrees. We will continue to provide opportunities for our students to connect with all universities, Sydney-based, regional and inter-state, as they plot their path to tertiary study. Ms Soares and Ms Low are always available to answer any questions that students have about post-school pathway planning, as well as industry-based information and contacts.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Louise McNeil
Principal
School Photo Day - 12 March
Apologies, the wrong date was published in last weeks newsletter. The correct date is the 12 March.
NAPLAN
School Production
The Little Mermaid Cast Announcement
After four days of auditions, the performance space was a buzz of excitement on Wednesday when students found out their roles for this year’s school musical, The Little Mermaid. It was wonderful to see how excited and supportive of each other the cast were when they found out the roles they would be playing.
This year’s cast is made up of 100 students and we have 75 students who have signed up to help backstage. Students in the orchestra have already begun rehearsing the score and the Art Club have commenced making props. Starting next week, rehearsals for the cast take place Wednesday and Thursdays after school. A rehearsal schedule will be put into place, so students know which rehearsals they need to attend. Students in the crew do not need to attend rehearsals until term 2.
There’s much excitement surrounding our production of The Little Mermaid and we look forward to welcoming you under the sea in Week 6 of Term 2!
The Little Mermaid Musical Roles
- ARIEL - Freya N (12)
- PRINCE ERIC - Claudia B (12)
- FLOUNDER - Winnie W (8)
- SEBASTIAN - Harper J (10)
- URSULA - Kiana K (11)
- KING TRITON - Quinn B (11)
- SCUTTLE - Stella M (12)
- GULLS - Valentina V(12), Kira S (8), Bay H (7), Alena B (8), Caitlin A (8)
- MERSISTERS - Georgia M (12), Edith B (12), Gabriela ZB (12), Christina F (10), Georgia P (10), Imogen A(9) and Poppy N (9)GRIMSBY - Summer V (12)
- CHEF LOUIS - Tammy W (12)
- FLOTSAM x 2 & JETSAM x 2 - Betsy (8), Abby W (9), Sophia B (9), Mackenzie M (10)
- PILOT - Maddy S (12)
- WINDWARD - Chloe DS (8)
- LEEWARD - Alma Y(8)
CHORUS - (Sailors, Sea Creatures, Chefs): Yehansa D (12), Georgia M(12), Helena D (10), Amelia K (8), Grace G (7), Charlotte R (8), Emily H (8)
PRINCESSES - Isabela MM (8), Priscilla K (8), Quinn S (7), Paisley E (7), Lara B (7), Evie W (8), India B (8), Claudia L (7), Sophie I (7), Mina A (7)
SAILORS - Aaya S (12), Anabelle S-D (12), Emily G (12), Sophie B (9), Sophie D (9), Alexandra M(9), Dhriti M (9), Evelyn S (9), Olivia C(10), Ellie H (10), Hannah K(10), Seku B (10), Sienna J (10), Amina L(10), Zoe B(10)
MAIDS - Genevieve D (9), Harper N (9), Keziah MC (9), Safi N (9)
CHEFS - Aaya S (12), Valentina V(12)
SEA CREATURES - Zali C(8), Jess R(8) Leena G (8), Harriet J (8), Elowen C(9), Cleo H (8), Arlandria S (8), Mila J(8), Ellie L(8), Nadia M(8), Chanel L(8), Erin S (8), Hannah M (8), Purvi SJR (7), Sabah F (7), Scarlett S(7), Shreya R(7), Tilly B (7), Veronika I (7), Yasmin H (7), Marianna L(7), Samantha H (8), Bahar M (8), Aayah S (8), Ally N (7), Amelia W (7), Bella DLRG (7), Brooke B(7), Eloise D (7), Erum S (7), Florence S(7), Freya B(7), Judith L(7), Kacey P(7), Macy S (7), Laura A (7)
Ms R Young
Faculty News
English
Creative Writing Competitions
HSIE
Year 10 Geography
Year 10 Geography students have been studying environmental change and management in their local environment Tarban Creek. Over two lessons students have been exploring human impacts and assessing environmental management strategies during fieldwork. Today we investigated the water quality of the creek, met the noisy grey headed flying fox colony and a very cute eastern long-necked turtle joined our outdoor lesson!
Ms H Burgmann
Science
Year 7's conducting First-hand investigations
Students in Year 7 Science classes are in the process of developing and refining their Working scientifically skills each day by carrying out first-hand investigations by using various measuring devices, gathering information and recording data for processing and analysis.
While they gather data, they also learn to work collaboratively and engage in group activities sharing equipment with each other. Here, students from 7E can be seen recording temperature changes in various locations and situations using thermometers.
Ms A Mishra
Validation of Assessment for Learning and Individual Development
VALID stands for Validation of Assessment for Learning and Individual Development. It is end-of-stage assessments for the Science key learning area. The test is linked to the Science syllabuses, and assesses what students know and can do in Science. These assessments can be used as a diagnostic tool to inform students of their growth, and we can use it as a tool for program evaluation.
The following students achieved first, second and third placements in their year group.
Yr 8 VALID
- Third place: Hedieh R
- Shared second Place: Scarlett A and Audrie W
- First place: Olivia K
Yr 10 VALID 2024
- Shared third place: Emily M and Annabelle T
- Second Place: Grace L
- First place: Louisa J
Ms A Nikic
PDHPE
Dance Company Auditions
Congratulations to all of the 120 students who signed up and auditioned for the Riverside Dance Company last week. We were in awe of the talent and dedication of these individuals and were proud of everyone for showing up and giving their all.
After very difficult deliberations - we were unable to differentiate between such talent - we have managed to expand our co-curricular dance program to offer 4 dance companies in 2025: Company Sapphire, Topaz, Aquamarine and Pearl – and they are all operating at full capacity! Well done to all the successful applicants, many of which started rehearsals just this week, or will commence next week. A big thank you Ms Hendriks and Jess T. in Year 12 who have managed to squeeze all these extra rehearsals into their already busy schedules to make this expansion possible.
We look forward to a bigger and even better year for Dance in Riverside.
Ms T Mitchell
Co-Curricula Activities
CHS Open Girls Volleyball Knockout - Round 1
Congratulations to our Open Girls Volleyball Knockout team for winning their first round of the CHS Sydney North comp against Hunters Hill High School. We played two sets, winning both by 25-5 and 25-13, followed by a friendly third set as either team didn’t want to stop playing! Riverside played exceptionally well, demonstrating great teamwork, precise communication, and powerful spikes that kept the other team on the defensive. We are ready to take on our next opponents, Burwood Girls High School in Round 2 of the knockout season!
Ms T Hendriks
Careers
Please visit https://riversideghscareers.com/ for the latest information on careers and life beyond school. You can use this site to locate universities, TAFE and any other type of course across Australia, information about the HSC and job vacancies. Feel free to drop into the Careers office if you have any questions.
Ms J Lemon and Ms T Soares